Technology - Google News |
- Apple pumps up its Amazon listings with iPhones, iPads and more
- Apple Launches iPhone X Display Module Replacement Program to Address Touch Issues
- Why Take-Two Needs 'Red Dead' to Stay Alive
| Apple pumps up its Amazon listings with iPhones, iPads and more Posted: 09 Nov 2018 08:06 AM PST  The new iPhone XR will soon be available directly through Amazon. James Martin/CNETAmazon has signed a deal to expand the selection of Apple products on its sites worldwide. The world's largest e-commerce company said Friday it'll soon start selling more Apple products directly and have access to Apple's latest devices, including the new iPad Pro, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and Apple Watch Series 4, as well as Apple's lineup of Beats headphones. The Amazon-Apple deal encompasses the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and India, with the new products hitting Amazon sites in the coming weeks. Only Apple-authorized resellers will now be allowed to sell Apple and Beats products on Amazon's marketplace. Currently, many of these Apple products are either unavailable on Amazon or are on sale only through its third-party marketplace at varied prices and conditions. Amazon does already directly sell some Apple devices, such as MacBook laptops and Beats headphones. "Amazon is constantly working to enhance the customer experience, and one of the ways we do this is by increasing selection of the products we know customers want," an Amazon spokesperson said Friday in a statement. "We look forward to expanding our assortment of Apple and Beats products globally."  Watch this: Apple iPad Pro and Mac Mini reviews arrive 1:10 With the new deal, customers should expect to see a greater selection of new Apple products and at standard prices. Also, the agreement offers a big win for Amazon just ahead of the holiday shopping season, giving it more electronics from a leading device maker with highly sought-after products. For Apple, the deal could help it sell more devices worldwide. The agreement also points to relations between the two tech giants improving, after Amazon in 2015 removed Apple TV video streamers from its site, then brought the devices back last year. At the same time last year, Amazon said it was also bringing back Google's Chromecast streamers, but they are still unavailable amid shaky relations with Google. "We're working with Amazon to improve the experience for Apple customers on their site," said Apple spokesman Nick Leahy, "and we look forward to those customers having another great way to buy iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and more." The timing of the deal does raise questions, said eMarketer analyst Andrew Lipsman, adding that Amazon's weaker-than-expected revenue in its latest quarter may have been a motivator for the company heading into the holidays. He said Apple could face some risk in providing sales data to Amazon. "But the real threat there is in Amazon introducing a rival product. I'd say Apple is pretty safe there," he said. The arrangement does include a few caveats. Apple's HomePod smart speaker, which competes against Amazon's own Echo devices, isn't included. Amazon doesn't list either the HomePod or the rival Google Home speakers. "We make assortment decisions all the time, based on terms and a large number of other factors," Amazon's spokesperson said about leaving out the HomePod. Also, independent sellers who list new and used Apple products on Amazon will have those listings removed after Jan. 4, 2019. Those sellers will now have to apply with Apple to become authorized resellers on Amazon. An email to sellers about this change went out just after the deal was signed. The agreement doesn't impact Amazon's Renewed program, which sells certified refurbished electronics. The change will allow Apple and Amazon to have more control over inventory and pricing of Apple products. But, smaller sellers and folks who flip iPhones right after they go on sale are likely to be hurt by the deal. Also, customers shopping for used (but not refurbished) Apple products may find a much more limited selection on Amazon. In both cases, those sellers and customers will be more likely to go to rival online sites like eBay instead. Amazon has already been adding more restrictions to its marketplace over the years, making it harder for small sellers to put up products on Amazon if they aren't working directly with the brands they list. Amazon inked a similar partnership with Nike last year that allowed both companies to reduce counterfeits on Amazon and gain stronger control over unauthorized third-party sales of Nike products. Independent sellers with Apple inventory in Amazon warehouses after Jan. 4 will have to create a removal order, with Amazon offering to reimburse return or disposal fees until early February. Those sellers won't be able to ship more Apple products to Amazon warehouses starting Dec. 1. First published at 8:04 a.m. PT. CNET's Holiday Gift Guide: The place to find the best tech gifts for 2018. Best Black Friday 2018 deals: The best discounts we've found so far.
Apple HomePod |
| Apple Launches iPhone X Display Module Replacement Program to Address Touch Issues Posted: 09 Nov 2018 03:08 PM PST Apple today announced a new display replacement program for the iPhone X, which will see the company replacing iPhone X displays that exhibit touch issues. According to Apple, some iPhone X displays can experience problems with responsiveness due to a display module component that can fail. Affected devices have a display or part of a display that does not respond to touch or responds intermittently, or a display that reacts without being touched at all.
There is no serial number check nor specific time period that outlines when affected devices were sold, so presumably this display component failure can impact any iPhone X device. Complaints about ghost touches and displays that fail to respond to touch have been circulating on the MacRumors forums for several months now, dating back to when the iPhone X was first released. iPhone X users with a display that has these symptoms should visit an Apple retail store location, find an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or contact Apple Support to arrange mail-in service to get a replacement. Apple recommends customers back up their iPhones to iTunes or iCloud before pursuing repair, and the company warns that other damage, such as a cracked screen, may need to be addressed before the display repair can be completed. This Apple program does not extend the standard warranty coverage of the iPhone X, and repairs may be restricted or limited to the original country of purchase. The program covers affected iPhone X devices for three years after the first retail sale of the unit. Apple says that if customers affected by this issue already paid for a repair, they can contact Apple Support for a refund. |
| Why Take-Two Needs 'Red Dead' to Stay Alive Posted: 10 Nov 2018 07:03 AM PST  Longevity is a pressing question for Take-Two Interactive’s games given the publisher’s reliance on a relatively smaller portfolio of titles. Photo: Richard B. Levine/Zuma Press So far, this fall’s biggest videogames are off to a strong start. But in today’s game business, that’s just not enough. Note how investors have responded to the two biggest launches of the year. Activision Blizzard ATVI -12.39% released “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” on Oct. 12, and the publisher’s stock price has crumbled by 29% since then. Take-Two Interactive Software TTWO -5.11% unleashed “Red Dead Redemption 2” on Oct. 26, and its stock price has since slumped nearly 6%. “Red Dead 2” and “Black Ops 4” generated sales of about $725 million and $500 million, respectively, over their opening weekends. For comparison’s sake, Hollywood’s biggest-ever movie opening came in just over $250 million. Selling on the news isn’t unheard of following a big release. But part of the reaction this time can be traced to some palpable concern by investors about the longevity of these new games. In today’s videogame market, big launches are now simply a starting point for a sustainable stream of revenue from in-game sales, expansion content, subscriptions and advertising. And the market has grown even more competitive lately, with “Fortnite” still commanding lots of player attention despite signs that its popularity may have peaked. Activision is also dealing with other issues that have made its selloff worse. The company’s third quarter report Thursday afternoon included a disappointing outlook, as weakness in other big games such as “Destiny 2” and “Overwatch” may offset some of the gains delivered by “Black Ops 4.” Analysts are also concerned that the company’s Blizzard unit may see no growth next year, as the only major launch planned so far seems to be a mobile version of the division’s “Diablo” franchise, rather than a full sequel to the popular PC game. Activision shares slid 12% on Friday following the report. For Take-Two, longevity is a pressing question given the publisher’s reliance on a relatively smaller portfolio of games. The company is launching its “Red Dead Online” later this month, and the strong early success of “Redemption 2” bodes well for that service. Take-Two also has a strong track record here, as its “Grand Theft Auto Online” service continues to be a major revenue source even five years after the last major sequel in that franchise. But Take-Two still struck a conservative tone in its fiscal second quarter earnings call Wednesday, with CFO Lainie Goldstein describing “Grand Theft Auto” as “definitely an unusual circumstance.” Analysts have followed that lead and are predicting that while Take-Two’s adjusted net revenues will jump 50% for the fiscal year ending in March on the strength of the “Red Dead 2” launch, that number will slip by 4% the following year. They are probably being too cautious, though, since Take-Two should be able to keep “Red Dead” alive for some time to come. Write to Dan Gallagher at dan.gallagher@wsj.com |
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